According to a Tennessean report, the number of Tennesseans “actively infected” with coronavirus increased by 42% since a low point last month as hospitalizations also rose. A spokesperson for the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force said they expected to see the increase as businesses reopened, adding, “Thus far the rise is manageable and the rate of transmission and positivity rate have been relatively stable.” This follows a troubling global trend.
Tennessee also hit a testing milestone this week, surpassing 500,000 coronavirus tests. The Volunteer State is 11th in per-capita testing nationwide, according to state-by-state data from the COVID-19 Tracking Project.
Here’s a rundown of developments and stories related to the coronavirus from the last week:
- During a BIO Digital session, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that the virus “isn’t over yet” and that it “shines a very bright light on something we’ve known for a very long time — and that is the health disparities of many diseases when it comes to minorities in general, and the African American population in particular.” Read recaps of BIO sessions here.
- Moderna will begin a Phase 3 trial of its vaccine in July.
- WHO attempted to clarify its comments on asymptomatic spread of the virus.
- Has the pandemic impacted investment in life science startups? Read this report from MedCity News.
- An Axios report on how the pandemic is accelerating the development of next-generation disease diagnostics.
